Wow, that was awesome! You just made life easier for me and I thank you for that.

I think meeting with you before I went on the air really helped and I truly appreciate your feedback. I look forward to developing my relationship with all our viewers and YOU will only make me better!

You are a key part of our team. Thank you!

You are a delight and I had a ball working with you.

Thank you so much for your work. I know it is the beginning of what will make a difference for our talent.

Thank you a million. You were tremendous in helping me think through the craft of performing on camera. The hour with you was very valuable.

Sitting with Tony for just an hour is worth an eternity in my career. The guy is an awesome teacher.

Your honesty tempered with sensitivity made it a lot easier to hear the criticism. You are clearly a humane and skilled communicator.

I have to tell you we are receiving great results from your coaching. Our anchors have really improved their connection with each other. It's amazing.

Ratings are up. Viewers are noticing. The anchors get it. And it's all a result of your work with our team along with management's intervention. Getting tangible results kicks ass!

Having worked with quite a few consultants, I can assuredly say this was my most gratifying experience yet.

Another great month. Thank you for all your help with our talent. It's made a big difference.

A VOICE FOR ALL SEASONS

Seasonal change can have a significant impact on your voice. There’s increased risk of cold and flu in winter, of course. Heating systems suck the moisture out of the air and create a very dry environment, which can wreak havoc on the vocal folds. And then just when you think it’s safe to speak again, spring arrives, pollen fills the air, and allergies abound.

Here are a few things that will help you sound your best even when Mother Nature is making it hard on you.

Steam Treatment

Make every cup of coffee (or tea) a steam treatment for your voice.

All you have to do is make yourself a nice hot beverage and breathe the steam that rises from the cup. Breathing in through your nose for a couple of minutes is ideal.

Hydrate.

Drink plenty of water or other non-caffeinated beverage.

The current recommendation from leading voice centers around the country for professional voice users is 64 ounces of non-caffeinated beverage per day.

If you typically start your day with a cup of coffee, try starting with a glass of water first.

The National Center for Voice and Speech (NCVS) recommends you also drink an extra glass of water for every cup of coffee or glass of wine or beer.

Use a humidifier while you sleep.

The fine water particles will directly hydrate the vocal folds.

Easy on the throat.

Choose medicine wisely.

Medications taken during the course of a cold or during allergy season can really dry you out. If you are suffering from congestion, try breathing in steam and using a saline nasal spray or a neti pot to clear the nasal passages. Avoid decongestants if at all possible. And you may want to talk with your health care professional about the use of guaifenesin (Mucinex), which works to thin the mucus and can help keep your throat and vocal folds moistened.

Rather than using mentholated cough drops, try using a lozenge with pectin such as Halls Breezers or even gummy bears.

Remember that coughing and throat-clearing can be risky business.

These actions can do extreme damage to the delicate tissue of the vocal folds. When you feel an urge to clear your throat or to cough, try swallowing instead.

Know when to seek professional help.

If you are hoarse or breathy for more than two weeks, make an appointment with a laryngologist (an ENT who is specialized in voice disorders). These problems can signal a serious condition.

Our Team

Barry Nash

Barry has been coaching television news and sports talent at all levels since 1982. Every night around the world, millions of people get their news from anchors and reporters he has trained and consulted.

Tony Martinez

Tony is an award-winning journalist and a master coach. In addition to his extensive work with news and sports talent, he leads our work with Spanish-language newscasts and coaches MMJs.

Barrett Nash

Barrett is a performance coach and visual image specialist, She is an especially good resource when improving the look of your team is a priority.

Jonathan Knopf

Jonathan is a veteran newsroom manager and coach. He understands how much performance depends on the people who support it, and he works as effectively with producers and writers as he does with talent.

Jenni Steck

Jenni specializes in the development and care of the speaking voice. Contact her especially when you have concerns or questions about the way your talent sound and read.

Patty Pressley

Patty is our long-time office manager. When you have an administrative question for us, she'll have an answer.

WE COACH ONLINE

When you have an immediate need, we can respond faster than ever. When your resources are limited, we can work with your team without incurring travel expense. And if we are visiting your station regularly, we can followup more powerfully than ever before.

All you need on your end is a computer with high-speed internet access and a camera. We take care of the rest.
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COACHING FOR SPANISH-LANGUAGE TALENT

All of our services are also available of Spanish-language news and sports talent and for the news and sportscasts that they serve. Contact Barry Nash or our Spanish- language coach, Tony Martinez, for more information.
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LOOKING FOR TALENT?

Any search for talent should include a visit to Collective Talent, where agents and self- represented talent post updated resumes and reels. There's an important bonus: Let us know you found your new hire on CT and we'll review and coach your new team member for free!

WE’RE IN THE NEWS

February 3, 2016

The New Yorker
Magazine sits in on one of Barry Nash's sessions with NFL Hall-of-Famer, Jerome Bettis.

By Barry Nash

ABOUT US

We are a team of coaches who specialize in the training and development of television news, weather and sports talent.

In all cases, our goal is to provide the resources talent need to achieve "Breakthrough Performance" -- delivery that engages the minds and hearts of viewers, demands their attention, and inspires their loyalty.